Railroad-spike



P. E. GRAU. RAILROAD SPIKE. No. 534,558. Patented Peb'. 19, 1895.

(No Model.)

. W1.T/VESSES l u MC aw 160% m. ,B

Jill/777M178 PATENT OFFICE.

FREDRIOK EZRA GRAU,-OF CROSS FORK, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAI LROAD-SPI KE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 534,558, dated February19, 1895. Application filed July 22,1893. Renewed November 28, 1894.Serial No. 530,280- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDRICK EZRA GRAU, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cross Fork, in the county of Potter and State ofPennsylvania, have invented new and use-- viding a spike with a headhaving an inner and an outer projection the under surfaces of which areof diiferent elevations and arranged at different angles, to bear uponthe bottom flange of the rail, and uppersurface of the cross-ties, ashereinafter more fully set forth.

It .also consists in providing the outer projection of the spike-headwith downwardly projecting side-spurs, which, when embedded in the tie,insures a perfect brace both for the spike and rail, as is hereinaftermore fully explained.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 isa perspective viewofmy improved spike, and Fig. 2 a perspective view of a railroad-rail, assecured to cross-ties by my improved spikes.

My improvement can be applied to a spike of any form, but I preferablyconstruct the spike with a rectangular shank, having a chisel-shapedpoint, as shown, at Fig. 1, and with the under-surface of the headprojecting outwardly, at right-angles, as shown at a and provided at itsrear edge, with two downwardly projecting spurs b, I), while at theopposite side of the spike the under surface of the head is inclinedupward as at 0 so as to engage the bottom-flange of a railroad-rail,when the under surface a, shall be brought in contact with a cross-tie.

From the extremities of the spike-head, the lines curve upwardly to forma crown e, so as to insure greater strength to the spike.

An essential feature of this invention consists in the downwardlyprojecting side-spurs, or bifurcated end of the spike-head, forresisting diagonal as well as outward pressure.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

As a new article of rnanufacture'a railroad rail spike having a headprovided with inner and outer projections, the inner projection arrangedat an angle to engage the bottomv flange of a railroad-rail and theouter projection provided with a downwardly projecting bifurcated lip,or side spurs, the head of the.

spike extending over said spurs and forming a connecting web,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDRIOK EZRA GRAU. Witnesses:

ROB. B. KNIGHT, N. BAUGHMAN.

